It was introduced to the public in 1938 when
Kate Smith sang it on an Armistice Day radio broadcast.

Irving Berlin gave all the royalties from the song, over $100,000, to the
Boy Scouts and
Girl Scouts.

The original
Boy Scout Oath stated:

"On my honor I will do my best:
To
do my duty to God and my country; and
To obey the Scout Law;
To help other people at all times;
To keep myself physically strong, mentally awake,
and morally straight."

The original
Girl Scout Promise stated:

"On my honor, I will try:
To
do my duty to God and my country;
To help other people at all times;
To obey the Girl Scout laws."

In 1954, President Eisenhower signed a Congressional Bill awarding
Irving Berlin a Congressional Gold Medal:

"In recognition of his services in composing many popular songs, including '
God Bless America.'"

Upon receiving the medal, February 19, 1955,
Irving Berlin commented to President Eisenhower:

"To me, '
God Bless America' was not just a song but an expression of my feeling toward the country to which I owe what I have and what I am."